Buddies Resting

Horses of Tibet

On April 25, 2015, when a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing more

than 8,800 people, injuring at least another 23,000, and leaving historic buildings in ruins, it was the worst natural disaster to befall the Himalayan nation since another devastating temblor rocked the country in 1934. While the human and structural toll in Nepal last month was substantial, there have also been many animals, particularly horses, donkeys and mules, that were either killed, injured or traumatized due to the earthquake. (1)

While relief efforts for humans affected by the temblor have been widely reported, one charity, The Brooke, has launched a drive to save and provide care for hundreds of the equines and other domesticated hoofed animals that play such a key role in the Nepalese agricultural and transportation sectors. (2)

Three teams from the agency have rescued around 400 horses in Nepal, particularly in the vicinity of the earthquake’s epicenter at Gorkha. Most of the equine owners in that area as well as some 1,650 horses, donkeys and mules were adversely affected by the temblor. (3)

“Natural disasters such as earthquakes can traumatize horses and other animals every bit as much as humans,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, which is headquartered in Tampa, Fla. “Vascular PRN deals with many cases of traumatized horses and offers them effective treatment through our horse compression system, which combines sequential compression and cold therapy for maximum therapeutic effectiveness.”

The Brooke has established an animal camp in Gorkha, which provides veterinary care, and the charity is also delivering support packages consisting of tarpaulins for temporary shelter, food and emergency medical supplies, to horse owners further away from the camp. (4)

“The charitable work being done on behalf of traumatized horses in Nepal is a wonderful development in response to the needs of some underserved communities devastated by the April earthquake,” Grambor said. “Fortunately, stateside owners of equines that have been traumatized in some way will be able to find the ready, accessible and effective treatment for their horses at our facilities that they need.”